80

John N. Kastanis

Comcast Corporation has promoted Cathy Avgiris to executive VP and general manager of data and communications services for Comcast Cable. A nearly 20-year veteran of the company, Avgiris was given the 2010 Vanguard Award for distinguished leadership in cable operations management by the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. She has been recognized as one of Cable FAX’s “Most Powerful Women in Cable” every year since 2006. In January John N. Kastanis (MBA) was appointed interim CEO of Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. Previously he served as president and CEO of the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. United Methodist Retirement Communities (Michigan) has hired Richard Martonchik (MBA) as director of human resources. Prior to this, he was manager of HR operations for the city of Ann Arbor. Hector Sierra was promoted from COO to general manager and senior VP at National Geographic’s book publishing group. He has been with National Geographic since 2000.

81

Kam Wong

 

Baruch College presented Kam Wong with the 2011 President’s Medal last fall. Wong is president and CEO of the Municipal Credit Union (MCU) of New York. The reception, which took place at MCU’s main office, also celebrated Baruch’s Asian American alumni.

 

83

Michael Mazzei has joined commercial real estate company Ladder Capital Finance Holdings LLLP as president. He was previously at Bank of America, where he served as managing director and global head of the CMBS and Bank Loan Syndication Groups. Gemma Wright-Casparius (MBA ’88) has joined the Vanguard Group’s Fixed Income Group as a principal and senior portfolio manager. She previously was fixed-income portfolio manager and deputy head of global macro research and strategy for a subsidiary of the Government of Singapore sovereign wealth fund. Dynamic Airways, based in Greensboro, N.C., has hired Richard Ziskind as the VP of sales and marketing. He most recently served as senior director of marketing and Omni Air International.

84

Bennet Susser

Eric M. Kirsch has been hired by Aflac Incorporated to lead its global investment management function as a member of its executive management team. Prior to this, he was managing director and global head of insurance asset management at Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Kathleen Romagnano has joined the Savings Bank of Danbury (Conn.) as executive VP and COO. She previously served as executive VP and COO at Amalgamated Bank in New York. Bennet Susser recently joined the law firm of Berman, Sauter, Record & Jardim in Morristown, N.J., where he heads its products liability and life science practice areas. He also practices in New York, in these and other areas, including insurance/reinsurance, commercial litigation, and general civil litigation

Dan Clivner

85

President Obama appointed Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez (MPA) to the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Daniel Clivner received the Frank Strassfeld Heritage Award from the Hollis Hills Jewish Center at its annual dinner-dance in March. Clivner is a Trustee of The Baruch College Fund.

86

Jonathan Asher (MBA) has been promoted to executive VP, director of account management, at Perception Research Services International. Captain Lawrence Vasquez is the new commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County (Calif.). After working as a financial analyst, he was commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1988 and designated a naval aviator in 1990. He recently completed a tour as the Navy Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Among his awards are the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and a Combat Action ribbon.

87

Melvin Taylor

Steven Kietz (MBA) has joined digital marketing technology firm EDO Interactive as general manager and executive VP of strategic partnerships. He was previously managing partner of Woodbury Advisors, LLC. Barry M. Slifstein (MBA) has been named VP, investor relations and planning, at RPM International Inc. He previously served as VP and controller. Melvin A. Taylor made his writing debut with the science fiction novel The Kindred Spirits: River’s Return (iUniverse). The first of a series, the book tells the story of the connection between two brothers, one living and one dead. Taylor recently changed his professional focus from the brokerage industry to writing.

89

Virginia Sobol (MBA) has joined CityRealty as director of marketing and public relations. She is the former VP of marketing and public relations for Mack-Cali Realty Corporation in New Jersey.